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Spring Arts Spotlights Nine can’t-miss shows and events this season
The Florentine Opera
Next Act Theatre Scarecrow Feb. 21-March 7
Black Violin Feb. 9
Songbird Feb. 16, 18
The Black Violin Experience Tour showcases the two-time Grammy-nominated duo Black Violin, brought to life by Kev Marcus and Wil Baptiste, invoking a musical fusion of exquisite classical sounds and exhilarating hip-hop beats. This is a concert performance that boldly merges centuries of music and unites audiences with a message of hope and possibility. Audiences will be immersed in a sound that transcends categories and celebrates ingenuity and ambition, proving anything is possible.
Offenbach’s Songbird is a reduced version of French operetta La Périchole. The scene is 1920s New Orleans, where musicians Songbird and Piquillo have fallen on hard times and are desperate for a better life. A tale of true love, capers, villains and confusion. Despite a series of dizzying events, they prove love conquers all. Don’t bet against Songbird! Performance sung in English and French with English supertitles. Ninety minutes with no intermission!
A big-city actress lands back at her family’s Wisconsin dairy farm to grieve herself back to life. But can she ever make enough meatloaf to feel a sense of purpose again now that her most important person is gone? A look at loss and survival. Resilience and renewal. And Hallmark movies. Broadway’s Heidi Armbruster pens and performs a rip-roaringly hilarious and unbelievably touching one-woman journey of roller coasters, kittens and cows. Written by and starring Heidi Armbruster. Directed by Laura Gordon.
929 N. Water St.
Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall 121 E. State St.
255 S. Water St.
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Marcus Performing Arts Center
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Danceworks Performance MKE
Skylight Music Theatre
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Biome | Feb. 29-March 3
Spring Awakening March 1-17
Bernstein & Gershwin March 8-10
This modern retelling of teen angst and sexual awakening in the 19th century has a phenomenal alternative-rock score. The original Broadway production won eight Tony Awards. The production will have a dynamic, young cast made up of both hearing and deaf performers in a masterful reimagining for all audiences that will open hearts, minds and understanding.
“My purpose here is to portray the impressions of an American visitor in Paris as he strolls about the city, listens to the various street noises and absorbs the French atmosphere,” Gershwin said of his rowdy An American in Paris. Jader Bignamini, Music Director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, conducts this perennial audience favorite along with Bernstein’s boisterous On the Town episodes – which conjure the excitement of love and adventure in New York City. Pianist George Li joins the MSO for Ravel’s playful, jazz-tinged Piano Concerto in G to complement this vibrant program.
Gina Laurenzi creates a choreographic ecosystem where multiple elements of the visual and sonic are nestled in an undercurrent of wonder. Drawing inspiration from her experiences scuba diving, Laurenzi builds an aquatic world where creatures known and imaginary are danced to life by Danceworks Performance MKE. Laurenzi’s current research on wonder, awe and the Anthropocene intersect and fuse as the company of artists leads the audience into a sensorial immersive experience. Original compositions by collaborator Allen Russell provide a haunting soundscape and transport the viewer into the underwater world of Biome. 1661 N. Water St.
158 N. Broadway
Bradley Symphony Center 212 W. Wisconsin Ave.
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Forte Theatre Company Hello, Dolly! | April 13-21 Don’t miss this iconic Broadway hit bursting with humor, romance, energetic dance and some of the greatest songs in musical theater history. The romantic and comic exploits of Dolly Levi, turn-of-the-century matchmaker, are certain to thrill and entertain audiences. Including songs like “It Only Takes A Moment,” “Put On Your Sunday Clothes” and, of course, the famed title number, Hello, Dolly! is a theatrical experience for both the young and young at heart. Join Forte Theatre Company at the Saber Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin for this must-see musical experience featuring some of Milwaukee’s top professional talent ...“Before the Parade Passes By!” Tickets $20-$30.
Next Act Theatre The Treasurer April 24-May 19 A New York Times Critics’ Pick! Ida Armstrong is broke, lonely and fading fast. And she’s spending all of her children’s money, forcing her son to assume the unwanted role of The Treasurer. The arrangement becomes untenable the more he questions his devotion to her. In this darkly funny, sharply intimate portrait, Max Posner chronicles the strained ties between a son and his aging mother, and the hell of a guilty conscience. Featuring Reese Madigan, Annabel Armour and David Flores. Directed by Cody Estle.
EAA Aviation Museum EAA AirVenture Oshkosh July 22-28 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh will bring together action, education, innovation and everything aviation-related you can imagine! Experience seven days filled with captivating displays, including daily air shows with world-class performances and two mesmerizing night shows. Engage in informative forums, hands-on workshops, evening programs and an array of surprises. It will be another spectacular year with a variety of incredible sights, including the Canadian Forces Snowbirds! Thanks to The Boeing Company’s generous support, youths ages 18 and younger can enjoy free admission. Secure your tickets in advance at EAA.org/Tickets. This is an event you won’t want to miss!
8222 S. 51st St., Franklin
255 S. Water St.
3000 Poberezny Rd., Oshkosh
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